Man admits to road-rage shooting on I-78

A New Jersey man who shot at a woman on Interstate 78 during a road rage attack pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated assault and other charges, and was hauled off to prison despite the protests of his defense attorney.

Lee Edwin Kish, 66, saw his bail revoked by Northampton County Judge Michael Koury Jr. prior to his sentencing next year, though prosecutors were not seeking it and his lawyer, Gary Asteak, said Kish is a suicide risk in prison.

"He's a very fragile man," said Asteak, whose client spent eight days in jail in April before making bail. "He attempted suicide when he was released from prison the last time. He was wasting away in prison."

"I'll inform the warden to put him on suicide watch," responded Koury, who said Kish could be a flight risk since he faces what might be a life sentence given his age.

On March 13, Kish fired a .45-caliber handgun at another driver on the highway in Lower Saucon Township after she had earlier flashed her lights and honked at him for driving too slow and causing a backup of traffic.

"As she passed him, she heard glass shatter and a loud bang like a bomb going off, as she described it," Assistant District Attorney Patricia Mulqueen said of victim Alyssha Csuk, 39, of Bethlehem.

Beyond aggravated assault, Kish also admitted to a firearms offense, reckless endangerment, possessing an instrument of a crime and criminal mischief.

When Koury sentences him on Feb. 14, guidelines recommend a minimum term ranging from three to four years in prison on the aggravated assault charge. For the firearms offense, a minimum sentence of two to three years is recommended.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors withdrew an attempted murder charge. Mulqueen said the deal was less than the victim wanted, with Csuk believing Kish, of Fanwood, N.J., was trying to kill her.

Kish has a criminal history that includes other firearms-related offenses in Texas. He told Koury that they include an incident in the 1970s in which he used a shotgun to shoot out the tire of a man who turned out to be a police officer, though Kish said he was fired on first.

In another conviction, Kish said he was arrested after discharging an explosive — a concussion mortar — in his front yard. Another, he said, was for illegally carrying a firearm.

Koury's bail decision came at the end of Wednesday's hearing, and was not requested by Mulqueen. Asteak said Kish has had no problems while free, has shown for all his court hearings, and needs to be there to look after his home while his wife visits England during the Christmas holiday.

"He's going to have to find someone else to take care of the dog," Koury said, "because I'm going to revoke his bail."

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry about this," Asteak told Kish as he was led away in handcuffs.